Weekend Open Thread

… a metric unit of liquid measurement was named after someone? The liter, the basic unit of liquid measurement in the metric system, was named after French wine merchant Claude Èmile Jean-Baptist Litre (1716-1778). Because of his work in defining the liter, we use a capital “L” to denote them today. (Oooh la la!)

… a television network had a unique explanation suggested about why a lead character was missing from several shows? In 1967, CBS aired the western series Pistols ‘n Petticoats, about a family of crack shots who helped solve assorted crimes. The series starred Ann Sheridan (1916-1967), but she became ill with esophageal cancer just before filming started. Sheridan tried to keep the illness a secret, but as the show progressed the effects of the disease became obvious to everyone. Sheridan died shortly after filming the 21st episode of the series, but the program continued on for six more episodes without her. How did CBS explain the absence of Sheridan’s character? At least one source said the network wanted to put out the idea that her character, Henrietta Hanks, had been eaten by an elephant. (I guess the fact that elephants are vegetarians didn’t register.)

… one of the most oft-quoted lines from a radio or television series was not actually said at any time during the series? You’ve undoubtedly heard someone say, “Just the facts, ma’am,” purporting to come from the long-running radio and TV series Dragnet. But at no time during either the radio or television run of the series was the line said by the main character, Sergeant Joe Friday, played by series creator Jack Webb (1920-1982), or by any other character. Webb would say lines such as, “All we want are the facts, ma’am,” but the catchphrase itself was never used. (Those are the facts, ma’am.)

… the bagpipe is really a Scottish invention? These wonderful instruments, which while being played resemble nothing more than a person with cat in his arms, biting his tail, were developed in Scotland in the early 5th Century AD. They would be outlawed during the reigns of several English kings, but they always came back. (Scots who don’t like bagpipes are often kilt.)

… viruses mutate fast? How fast, you ask? Well, according to research, viruses mutate more in one day than humans have in the last three million years. How does it happen so quickly, you wonder? It’s due to their rapid rate of reproduction, an inability to repair other mutations, and the way they can exchange genes with one another. (Which makes the development of anti-virus medicines really tough at times.)

… a restaurant in Pittsburgh served only food from nations with which the U.S. was in conflict? The appropriately-named Conflict Kitchen was in operation from 2010 to 2017, and offered a menu dedicated to nations the U.S. was having disagreements with. The menu rotated every three to five months, and the restaurant also offered educational information about the nation in question. Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia … all were featured at one time or another. The restaurant closed in 2017 because the Carnegie Foundation pulled its support. (It probably would’ve lasted forever otherwise, since we always seem to be on the outs with some country or other.)

I’m starting to think I’m not welcome …

The Frech Battle Flag is a white cross on a white background.

FOR SALE: French WWII combat rifle, never fired, dropped once.

Just happened to read, once again, of the Barbary pirates, the Muslim nations of North Africa, who preyed on European and American shipping. The Europeans had been paying tribute and ransoms for captured citizens for years. The Americans did too, at first, but in the early 1800’s went to war with the pirates. Other than Sweden and the Kingdom of Sicily, Europeans didn’t help then either.